Posts from March 2009

Saturday March 14, 2009 06:19 EDT
The success of drug decriminalization in Portugal

In 2001, Portugal became the only EU-member state to decriminalize drugs, a distinction which continues through to the present. Last year, working with the Cato Institute, I went to that country in order to research the effects of the decriminalization law (which applies to all substances, including cocaine and heroin) and to interview both Portuguese and EU drug policy officials and analysts (the central EU drug policy monitoring agency is, by coincidence, based in Lisbon). Evaluating the policy strictly from an empirical perspective, decriminalization has been an unquestionable success, leading to improvements in virtually every relevant category and enabling Portugal to manage drug-related problems (and drug usage rates) far better than most Western nations that continue to treat adult drug consumption as a criminal offense.

by Glenn Greenwald

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Would any (e:strip)pers like to coalesce for the St. Pat's parade? It's my first time and I would love a tour guide.

I need to go home this week - would anyone like to come visit my sweet purry China Cat Sunflower? Three visits would ensure her happiness.




Back when I bought a ticket to DRUMLine Live ( based on the movie ) at UB North Center for the Arts, I didn't realize I had spring break this week. So, anyone want a ticket? 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 Orchestra Row H, Seat 112.

Searcher, there is no road. We make the road by walking.

--Antonio Machado, Selected Poems

I've befriended the neighbor kids' grandmother and father, my aunt's best childhood friend, A's aunt, a former landlord, and my dad's cousin in the past week on Facebook. It's freaky.

# 45% of Facebook's US audience is now 26 years old or older.

1. The fastest growing segment in the US: Women over 55, up 175.3% in the last 120 days. Facebook growing faster with women than men in almost every age group.

At least one person attributed some of the growth to 25 things meme (see @lauren #47634 and @metalpeter #47564).

Why now? Why facebook?

I much prefer estrip.

Happy birthday, @drew!!

I thought @jim and @paul and maybe others would find this article interesting, Mobile Web 2009=Desktop 1998

Summary:
Mobile phone users struggle mightily to use websites, even on high-end devices. To solve the problems, websites should provide special mobile versions.

Bird Island Park, Broderick Park and Squaw Island

See googlemap:


Tiny Buffalo Rising article

Little more historical bit: What is the "railroad swing bridge"? Is that the thing you go over from West Ferry across Niagara to the park? Is the railroad bridge between Canada & US still in use?











And one goofy photo from A's most recent gig...

Lentil-potato-garlic soup over basmati rice with a little fresh cilantro. Tomato base.

One of the persistent themes of English and American legal history is the continuous efforts of the rich to avoid taxes.

Dukeminier, Property p. 179

Jesus walked into a bar. He approached three sad-faced gentlemen at a table and greeted the first one: "What's troubling you, brother?" he said. "My eyes. I keep getting stronger and stronger glasses, and I still can't see." Jesus touched the man, who ran outside to tell the world about his now 20-20 vision. The next gentleman couldn't hear Jesus' question, so The Lord just touched his ears, restoring his hearing to perfection. This man, too, ran out the door, probably on the way to the audiologist to get a hearing-aid refund. The third man leapt from from his chiar and backed up against the wall, even before Jesus could greet him. "Don't you come near me, man! Don't touch me!" he screamed. "I'm on disability."

Marc Galanter, 50 DePaul L. Rev. 647, 659. Originally from Theodore Ernst, Laughter 43 (1925) A whole article of lawyer and malingerer jokes.

Dinner tonight - refried bean enchiladas.